YMCA, New York

Advantages: excellent location, it is really downtown NYC
Disadvantages: expensive, dirty rooms and unbelieably dirty decaying bathrooms

I had been to YMCA West Side in New York once ten years ago, before they renovated it, and I enjoyed it much. Thus last summer I went back there with my girlfriend without even having a look at the rooms. I wish I did not go there! Definitely I will not go there any more. I am 32 and since I travel quite a lot I can say I have some spirit of adaptability. However there's a limit to everything. The place where this hotel is locate is very good, ...
...of downtown New York. Unfortunately this is the only positive thing about YMCA West Side. PRICE: price is too high for what you get. 100$ for a twin bedroom is a bargain for the are you are going to stay, but it is a theft for what you are provided for. What's more YMCA demands you to pay in advance for the whole period you are going to stay. In fact I had reserved it for 5 days and had to stay there all those days, despite the problems, not to ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic Location
Disadvantages: Not great quality rooms and washing facilities

If you appreciate the "well, it's a roof over your head" style accommodation then I promise you will love the YMCA Westside, NYC. I was lucky enough to spend 5 days in New York last year as part of my college course so the accommodation was out of my hands. Fortunately I prefer to prioritise location to accommodation. As far as youth hostels go, the YMCA west side has everything and more. Literally 1 minute to the end of the road, cross the street ...
...middle of one of the most famous concrete jungles, central park is a particularly stunning view. Maybe it's the contrast of the tall trees and quiet pathways to the colossal skyscrapers and rowdy streets that heighten the beauty situated so close to the YMCA. Within walking distance there is the famous ice rink (from Home Alone 2), which is well worth a go on even if you can't skate, the views alone are unforgettable. You will also find it easy to ... Read review

Advantages: Nice location
Disadvantages:

The West Side YMCA is a huge building situated on West 63rd St., in a fairly quiet, but safe area, just across from the Lincoln Center. It's a convenient location, just a couple of mins walk from Central Park, and an easy bus ride to downtown. We stayed for 3 nights in a private room, which has 2 beds (bunk) with cable TV and aircon, and access to the shared bathrooms on each floor (separate sex). That was 84 dollars a night, which by NY standards ...
...private bath for about 30 bucks more, but if you're on a budget, as you obviously will be if you're staying here, then you probably won't bother. Overall, it was fine. The room was, as expected, basic, but clean. The bathrooms were pretty big, with 10 or so showers and and equal number of sinks, and while they're definitely of the school changing room variety (individual cubicles, mind) they do the job. My only gripe was a pretty unfriendly welcome, ... Read review

Advantages: Close to Central Park
Disadvantages: Too many to list

I went to America in mid-Ferbruary with my school band. We spent the last 3 days, 2 nights in New York City and spent our nights at the West Side YMCA. When we pulled up outside we were quite wary of the place but inside the reception was beautiful... what a false impression that was! We were all staying on the 15th floor, girls on one side, boys on the other and teachers in the middle. When we stepped out of the lift we were shocked. It looked ...
...with a small grate in the top, there was a dreadful smell, very stale. (apparently there were wooden doors on some of the lower floors). The rooms were tiny, just enough room for a bunkbed, a tv (which we were most grateful of) and a small desk. There was barely enough floorspace for 2 people's suitcases! My room seemed clean enough but one of our party found a live cockroach in theirs. There was a shared toilet/shower room.. one female one male. ... Read review

Advantages: Cheap, Central Location, Nice Food
Disadvantages: Some rooms are poor, lifts sometimes take a while to get to you.

I spent three nights at the West side YMCA. The first was spent in a twin room on the 10th floor. It was just big enough for a bunk, table, TV and a lamp. It was air conditioned, although it was noisy, and had a great view (only some rooms have this) There were bathrooms on each floor - one set male one set female. The girls had a combination lock on the door, but everyone knew the code. The boys door wouldn't shut properly. There were 3 toilets, ...
...three showers - you could only use two of them, which screeched "like the exorcist". The curtains left an inch at either side, and there was a big mirror opposite you, above the sinks - very communal. We then kicked up BIG FUSS...(we were a school group) Then...we got Rooms on floors 12 and 13(top two floors) that had been rennovated... I was in a room of 6 with the other guys on the trip, but it was a nice room - TV, desk, shelves, Air con, bunk ... Read review